[dUnKle]

Well decided that after putting it of for the 12 months we have lived in the house that after Christmas will install / tart up the bathroom (kitchen also but thats after)

Now I am rubbish at DIY and rely on my Dad to do all things like this, but I at least want to make out I sort of know what needs doing etc

This is how bathroom currently looks ...

Have pulled up the old floor and some of the tiles (had new radiator installed in there and this needed doing) - so looks a real mess

What we want to do is

(1) Keep Bath
(2) Install new sink and toilet (both bigger)
(3) Retile whole bathroom
(4) Have new shower installed (one of those that works off the combi boiler)


But need some advice ..

(a) How do I work out how many tiles are needed ?
(b) Do I tile then install shower or put shower in first


Also we want the toilet and sink to be enclosed with a worktop running across the top (if that makes sense) - something like this

Would that be wasy to do ? Want to use what existing plumbing we have, esp for the toilet

Ideally want the whole thing to be as painless as possible and learn something along the way

[gilford]

Originally Posted by dUnKle

But need some advice ..

(a) How do I work out how many tiles are needed ?


Measure the walls and times by 2


(b) Do I tile then install shower or put shower in first


Tile first and then screw in the shower around the tiles

I am in the process of doing mine now (well, a fitter is!) lol

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by dUnKle

(a) How do I work out how many tiles are needed ?
(b) Do I tile then install shower or put shower in first

(a) Because tile sizes can vary from style to style, and the fact you may have some tiles with a border pattern, and even some tiled edges, there is no easy way other than to draw your walls to scale and over lay the tiles and patterns. This is what I did for our bathroom.

(b) Tile, then shower. Shower enclosures/panels are best mounted through the tiles to the wall.

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by Mr Incredible

(a) Because tile sizes can vary from style to style, and the fact you may have some tiles with a border pattern, and even some tiled edges, there is no easy way other than to draw your walls to scale and over lay the tiles and patterns. This is what I did for our bathroom.

(b) Tile, then shower. Shower enclosures/panels are best mounted through the tiles to the wall.

Cheers - so put new tiles on and then get guy to come and install shower ?

[Mr Incredible]

Depends on whether you are running your shower head off the bath mixer taps, or you want new pipes installed to a showerhead/mixer arrangement. If it's the latter you need the plumbing done first, then I suggest tiling, then the glass shower door/enclosure/panel to the tiled wall.

[bitofatit]

Originally Posted by Mr Incredible

(a) Because tile sizes can vary from style to style, and the fact you may have some tiles with a border pattern, and even some tiled edges, there is no easy way other than to draw your walls to scale and over lay the tiles and patterns. This is what I did for our bathroom.

(b) Tile, then shower. Shower enclosures/panels are best mounted through the tiles to the wall.

Re: Tiles - this is very basic but remember to order some extra for breakages and awkward corners etc - they reckon an extra 10%.
Very brave of you to take this on yourself. Had mine done 6 months ago - had to get in a plumber - cost too much but the outcome is Ace!
good luck.

[neilios]

Im a plumber ,first fix the shower ,remember to put the shower on the slip bump side of the bath ,for the tiles measure the walls you want tiling then add up the meters and tell the tile shop how many meters you want and they'll work out how may tiles you need.

To be honest the plumbing side is pretty easy ,but the tiling i'd get a recommended pro in to do it ,everyone rekons they can tile but i can tell straight away when people have done there own.

And another point maybe get the walls reskimmed after removing the old tiles .it makes the job easier .

[kbfern]

Most tile places will let you take back any unused tiles and give a full refund if tiles are not damaged.

[andykn]

Count the old tiles?

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by andykn

Count the old tiles?

That would work if the new tiles are of the same size.

[andykn]

Originally Posted by Mr Incredible

That would work if the new tiles are of the same size.

Or pro rata if they are different.

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by andykn

Or pro rata if they are different.

Wastage on different tile sizes can catch people out. But as a poster said, if you can get a "sale on return" deal then this is not much of a problem. Counting what is already there, if the same size, is the easiest and most accurate method!!

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by bitofatit

Re: Tiles - this is very basic but remember to order some extra for breakages and awkward corners etc - they reckon an extra 10%.
Very brave of you to take this on yourself. Had mine done 6 months ago - had to get in a plumber - cost too much but the outcome is Ace!
good luck.

Much depends on the level of DIY skill I suppose.

In a shower I'd never use a few blobs of adhesive and stick the tile. A good waterproof adhesive with a solid 3-5mm base (like plastering), then use a notched spreader to prepare the glue prior to fixing.

Tricks I've learnt are to get a dead level line and use a baton for the lowest full row of tiles.

To get an even spread of adhesive, just use any spreader and slap it on and then have a bit of architrave with two small nails hammered into the edge at each end with 3-5mm protruding, then scrape this up the wall to shave off any excess thickness. I've never had tile problems and grouting problems using this method. The layout above was fixed by a "professional" and TBH it was not as good as job as I had done in our bathroom many years earlier.

For fiddly bits around pipework, you must get a ceramic rounded blade for your hacksaw. Makes the job much easier.

With patience and a bit of nouse, "professional" looking tiling, or even better in my case, can be achieved.

[dUnKle]

Cheers

I know my old man could do most of it in his sleep, has installed last two bathrooms at his and is great at all things DIY. He can tile, plumb and everything

Just wanted to at least have some clue as to what was going on

[oakie]

a lot of work, tricky cuts, levels & lines to match up in a bathroom - unless experienced at DIY your best getting a tiler in